Image acqusition module for monitoring applications of the external surroundings of a vehicle

• US 20060139482A1
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bande Martinez, Daniel, Miguel Sanz, Santiago
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An image acquisition module for monitoring the external surroundings of a vehicle is provided. The image acquisition module comprising a housing with a protected interior against at least moisture and a window hermetically closed by a transparent element; an electronic circuit accommodated in said housing and associated with connection means with the exterior for supply and for bidirectional signal exchange; an image detector connected to said electronic circuit and facing said window; a support attached to the housing to carry an optical system between said image detector and said window; and positioning and releasable fixation means to enable the focussing of said optical system and the releasable fixation of the module to an exterior structure of a vehicle.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. An image acquisition module for monitoring applications of the external surroundings of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing with an interior protected against at least moisture and a window hermetically closed by a transparent element;

a electronic circuit accommodated in said housing and associated with connection means with the exterior, for supply and/or bidirectional signal exchange;

an image detector connected to said electronic circuit and opposed to said window;

a support attached to the housing to carry an optic system between said image detector and said window; and

positioning means and releasable fixation means to enable at least the focussing of said optic system and the releasable fixation of the module to an external structure of a vehicle,

wherein said window is associated with at least one device protecting it from external agents and from a luminous incidence, providing an appropriate light pass through said transparent element.

42. The module according to claim 41, wherein said protection device, which is at least one, comprises a visor element disposed around at least a part of said window.

43. The module according to claim 42, wherein the protection device further comprises, a car gutter element disposed around at least another part of said window.

44. The module according to claim 41, wherein said window or said support are, furthermore, associated with conditioning means of the light pass conditions through said transparent element.

45. The module according to claim 44, wherein said conditioning means comprise an electric heater device associated with said transparent element and/or with said optical system and being supplied from said connection means with the exterior.

46. The module according to claim 43, wherein said visor and car gutter elements are integrated around an opening of a mounting adapter of the housing, including said adapter focussing means and releasable fixation means for the fixation of said housing in cooperation with said focussing means and said releasable fixation means of the housing providing a predetermined position of said opening and visor and car gutter elements in relation to the window, and releasable fixation means for the releasable fixation of said mounting adapter to said external structure of a vehicle.

47. The module according to claim 43, wherein said visor and car gutter elements are integrated around an opening existing in said external structure of a vehicle, including focussing means and releasable fixation means for the fixation of said housing to the external structure of a vehicle in cooperation with said focussing means and said releasable fixation means of the housing providing a predetermined position of said opening and of the visor and car gutter elements in relation to the window.

48. The module according to claim 43, wherein said visor and car gutter elements are part of the housing itself.

49. The module according to claim 41, wherein said connection means with the exterior, for the supply and/or for bidirectional signal exchange, are linked to an exterior multiple connector.

50. The module according to claim 49, wherein said exterior multiple connector is incorporated into the housing.

51. The module according to claim 49, wherein said exterior multiple connector is disposed at the end of a multicore wiring.

52. The module according to claim 51, wherein said multicore wiring has the form of a flat tape.

53. The module according to claim 51, wherein said multicore wiring is a printed flexible circuit.

54. The module according to claim 41, wherein said connection means with the exterior, for the supply and/or the bidirectional signal exchange, are materialized in the form of an emitter/receptor of electromagnetic waves.

55. The module according to claim 54, wherein said emitter/receptor of electromagnetic waves is a radio signal emitter/receptor.

56. The module according to claim 54, wherein said emitter/receptor of electromagnetic waves is an infra-red ray signal emitter/receptor.

57. The module according to claim 41, wherein said image detector is part of an integrated circuit.

58. The module according to claim 57, wherein said integrated circuit is an A.S.I.C.

59. The module according to claim 46, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle include pressurized elastic fixation elements.

60. The module according to claim 46, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle include form-fitting fixation configurations.

61. The module according to claim 46, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle includes screws.

62. The module according to claim 46, wherein said exterior structure of a vehicle is an exterior rear view mirror housing of a vehicle.

63. The module according to claim 42, wherein said visor element is in a small angle inclined outwards and upwards with respect to a central vision line of the image detector.

64. The module according to claim 63, wherein said small angle is approximately in an interval between 0 and 15°

.

65. The module according to claim 43, wherein said car gutter is in a certain angle inclined outwards and downwards with respect to a central vision line of the image detector.

66. The module according to claim 65, wherein said angle is approximately in the interval between 45°

and 90°

.

67. The module according to claim 42, wherein some of the more protruding zones of the visor and/or car gutter elements are at a certain distance of a plan in which the window is disposed not less than the window diameter.

68. The module according to claim 41, wherein said housing comprising two concave halves with respective perimetral borders opposed to each other and back-to-back throughout a joint.

69. The module according to claim 68, wherein said concave halves are provided with respective continuous flanges extended externally and adjacent to said perimetral borders, being an annular elastic sealing element embracing both continuous flanges and covering said joint.

70. The module according to claim 69, wherein in a part of at least one of said perimetral borders there is a recess to provide an exit for a multicore wiring.

71. The module according to claim 70, wherein said annular elastic sealing element comprises a longitudinal slit adjacent to said exit for said multicore wiring, through which slit the multicore wiring passes.

72. The module according to claim 68, wherein said optical system is integrated in a tubular body defining an external flange and an externally screw threaded portion, and said support comprises an appendix protruding from one of said two concave halves of the housing, including said appendix an internal screw thread to which the optical system is screw coupled.

73. The module according to claim 72, wherein at least one elastic sealing element is included, compressed between said external flange of the optical system body and an appendix end.

74. The module according to claim 73, wherein said transparent element is disposed between one end of the optical system and an inner bottom wall of a cover externally coupled to said appendix, consisting said window of an opening in said inner bottom wall of said cover.

75. The module according to claim 74, wherein an electrical heater is included, comprising at least one resistance in the form of a printed ring or deposited in at least one face of a peripheral area of the transparent element and connected to current supply.

76. The module according to claim 74, wherein said appendix is cylindrical and externally screw threaded, and the cover is cylindrical and internally screw threaded in order to screw couple the appendix.

77. The module according to claim 76, wherein said appendix includes an axial slot in the external screw thread, for, at least, the pass of a current supply cable.

78. The module according to claim 77, wherein said appendix is integral to one of said concave halves of the housing, which are obtained by injection moulding of a high-coefficient heat conductivity material.

79. The module according to claim 74, wherein said cover is obtained by injection moulding of a high-coefficient heat conductivity material.

80. The module according to claim 47, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle includes pressurized elastic fixation elements.

81. The module according to claim 47, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle includes form-fitting fixation configurations.

82. The module according to claim 47, wherein said releasable fixation means for the fixation of the mounting adapter to the exterior structure of a vehicle includes screws.

83. The module according to claim 47, wherein said exterior structure of a vehicle is an exterior rear view mirror housing of a vehicle.

84. The module according to claim 43, wherein some of the more protruding zones of the visor and/or car gutter elements are at a certain distance of a plan in which the window is disposed not less than the window diameter.